2024 CEC Preview: Southern Vipers v Western Storm
THE MATCH
Western Storm take on Southern Vipers in the Charlotte Edwards Cup at Utilita Bowl, Southampton today (Thursday May 30th).
Play is due to start at 3pm.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP TO DATE?
A live stream of the match will be made available and you can keep up to date via our match centre.
In addition to this, a report on the day’s play along with quotes will be posted on this website.
THE OPPOSITION
Captain: Georgia Adams
Head Coach: Charlotte Edwards
2023 finish: Winners
2023 highest run-scorer: Danni Wyatt (273)
2023 highest wicket-taker: Anya Shrubsole & Linsey Smith (13)
The big question: Will it be a three-peat? Vipers have won the past two editions of the Charlotte Edwards Cup, and have only lost two matches in that period. When everyone is available the line-up looks formidable.
Player to watch: Georgia Adams is simply the best regional player never to have played for England. She glistens after taking home the PCA’s overall MVP plus, the individual CEC and RHFT awards last season. Expects more runs, more wickets, and incredible captaincy.
Young gun: Charli Knott has settled in at Vipers like a homegrown player. The Australian has mixed heavy scoring with the bat with pressure-building off-spin in the RHFT, and the 21-year-old has serious T20 pedigree having been named the Young Gun at last winter’s WBBL.
Final thought: ‘Little Lottie’ has found a nice home on the south coast and ‘Lottie’ does not want to relinquish her. Six England call-ups will throttle the first couple of matches but once Vipers are at full strength they have a line-up that could mix it at international level. Anya Shrubsole’s retirement does leave a bowling hole, but winter recruit Freya Davies should fill that.
TEAM NEWS
Western Storm will be without Heather Knight and Lauren Filer (international duty). Ellie Anderson returns to the squad and Issy Wong is included after joining on loan.
A starting XI will be named from the following squad: Sophie Luff (c), Emma Corney, Fran Wilson, Dani Gibson, Nat Wraith, Katie Jones, Alex Griffiths, Niamh Holland, Jess Hazell, Mollie Robbins, Gemma Lane, Issy Wong, Amanda Jade Wellington, Chloe Skelton, Ellie Anderson, Sophia Smale, Claire Nicholas, Lola Harris, Imogen Cooper and Emily Geach.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
If you are planning to attend this match, you can find out everything that you need to know via the Hampshire CCC website.
NEXT MATCH
Our next match is on Friday May 31st when we take on Sunrisers at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.
Please note that this match is a double header with Somerset’s Vitality Blast fixture against Essex Eagles and is therefore not included in Western Storm Membership.
